Brief biography of the venerable parents of Sergius of Radonezh
Believers who profess Orthodox Christianity are interested to know how the Radonezh Cyril and Maria went through their life, as well as what contribution they made to religious development.
Origin
Maria and Kirill were distinguished by their godly and good-natured morals. They lived in the Rostov principality at the turn of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. As one legend says, they owned an estate located four kilometers from the city of Rostov, located on the banks of a river called Ishnya.
Kirill has boyar origins. In his youth, he served princes Konstantin Borisovich and Konstantin Vasilyevich. During princely trips to the Golden Horde, he constantly accompanied them. Cyril of Radonezh and the Velyaminov nobles had a common ancestor - a Varangian warrior named Shimon Afrikanovich (according to other sources Ofrikovich), who was engaged in the construction of the Assumption Cathedral of the Kiev Pechersk Monastery.
Today, there is no reliable information confirmed by documents about where Mary of Radonezh came from. However, there are several assumptions that differ radically from each other. According to different versions, it can come from both ordinary Russians and noble Tatar families, and also, with some probability, from the Chingizids. She had a sister, whose husband moved at the same time as Kirill to the city of Radonezh. Duden - that was her husband's name - came from a family of noble Tatars who were baptized. In addition, another relative of Mary, whose name was Tormos, moved to Radonezh.
Life and service to God
The blessed spouses Cyril and Maria of Radonezh preferred life in quiet and peaceful countryside rather than in cities. They led a strict and modest lifestyle, followed all church instructions, visited the holy temple and read prayers. In their home, they willingly and hospitably received wandering people, and also always provided assistance to the poor. Therefore, their righteousness was known not only to the Lord God, but also to all the people in the area. They passed on all their pious qualities to their children.
The couple already had a son named Stefan when Maria found out that she was expecting a baby again. Many years later, the newborn son was destined to become the founder of the Trinity Lavra. In total, the holy couple had four children - Stephen, Bartholomew (the future Sergius of Radonezh), Peter and Anna. However, in some sources Anna of Radonezh is mentioned as the wife of her eldest son, Stephen. While awaiting the birth of her babies, Maria observed strict fasts. She categorically did not consume milk, meat or fish. All her food consisted of bread and plant products.
The sons of the saints, although they came from a noble boyar family, did not disdain simple rural labor and knew how to make anything.
According to one legend, while visiting church, Mary, pregnant with Bartholomew, heard the baby in her womb cry out three times in a row. So she realized that this was a divine sign. And from the very first days after his birth, the baby began to fast, which greatly surprised his parents. Every Wednesday and Friday he completely refused to feed. And if the mother tasted meat, he did not want to drink milk. As soon as Bartholomew was twelve years old, he began to ask his parents for a blessing for monastic life. They had nothing against it, but set their own condition - for this, the son should wait until they died.
Around 1328, Cyril and the future schema-nun Maria, having endured hunger and impoverishment on the land of Rostov, headed to Radonezh and settled not far from the Church of the Nativity. As Kirill grew old, he could no longer serve the prince. This responsibility passed to his eldest son Stephen.
At the end of their pious life, Cyril and Mary of Radonezh together took monastic vows, and after some time, the schema. This happened in the Intercession Khotkovsky Monastery located near Radonezh, which was both male and female. Stefan also settled in the monastery and took care of his parents when they became completely infirm.
Death
Cyril and Maria left the world in 1337 from old age and illness. Before his death, as they promised, they blessed Bartholomew on the monastic path.
St. Maria of Radonezh
Kirill and Maria were kind and godly people. Speaking about them, blessed Epiphanius notes that the Lord, who deigned the great lamp to shine in the Russian land, did not allow it to be born from unrighteous parents, for such a child, which, according to God’s dispensation, was later to serve the spiritual benefit and salvation of many, was befitting to have parents saints, so that good comes from good and better is added to better, so that the praise of both the begotten and those who give birth may mutually increase to the glory of God. And their righteousness was known not only to God, but also to people. Strict guardians of all church statutes, they also helped the poor; but they especially sacredly kept the commandment of the Apostle: “do not forget the love of strangers: for the angels do not see the angels who are strangers” (Heb. 13:2). They taught the same to their children, strictly instructing them not to miss the opportunity to invite a traveling monk or other tired wanderer to their home. We have not received detailed information about the pious life of this blessed couple; for this we can, together with St. Plato, say that “the very fruit that came from them showed, better than any eloquent praise, the kindness of the blessed tree. Happy are the parents whose names are glorified forever in their children and offspring! Happy are the children who not only did not disgrace, but also increased and exalted the honor and nobility of their parents and glorious ancestors, for true nobility lies in virtue!” Prayer of St. Cyril and Mary of Radonezh Cyril and Maria already had a son, Stefan, when God gave them another son - the future founder of the Trinity Lavra, the beauty of the Orthodox Church and the indestructible support of their native land. Long before the birth of this holy baby, the wondrous Providence of God had already given a sign about him that this would be the great chosen one of God and a holy branch of the blessed root. One Sunday, his pious mother came to church for the Divine Liturgy and humbly stood, according to the custom of that time, in the vestibule of the church, along with the other wives. The liturgy began; They had already sung the Trisagion hymn, and now, not long before the reading of the Holy Gospel, suddenly, in the midst of general silence and reverent silence, the baby cried out in her womb, so that many paid attention to this cry. When they began to sing the Cherubic Song, the baby cried out another time, and this time so loudly that his voice could be heard throughout the church. Meanwhile, the liturgy continued. The priest exclaimed: “Let's take a look! Holy to Saints! At this exclamation, the baby screamed for the third time, and the embarrassed mother almost fell from fear: she began to cry... Then women surrounded her and, perhaps wanting to help her calm the crying child, they began to ask: “Where is your baby? Why is he screaming so loudly? But Mary, in emotional agitation, shedding tears, could hardly say to them: “I have no baby; ask someone else." The women began to look around, and not seeing the baby anywhere, they again pestered Mary with the same question. Then she was forced to tell them frankly that she really did not have a baby in her arms, but she was carrying him in her womb... Always devoted to the will of God and attentive to the ways of Providence, Cyril and Maria understood the instructions of God's Providence, and in accordance with these instructions they should were to conduct the business of raising a child. After the incident described, the mother became especially attentive to her condition. Always having in mind that she was carrying in her womb a baby who would be the chosen vessel of the Holy Spirit, Mary, during the rest of her pregnancy, prepared to meet in him the future ascetic of piety and abstinence; and therefore she herself, like the mother of the ancient judge of Israel Sampson (Judges 13:4), carefully kept her soul and body in purity and strict abstinence in everything. “Carefully preserving the gift of God that she carried in her womb, she wanted,” as St. Plato says, “through her abstinence to give the child’s body pure and healthy nutrition, well understanding with her kind heart the truth that virtue, shining in the healthy and beautiful the body becomes even more beautiful through this.” Always a reverent and zealous prayer worker, the righteous mother now felt a special need in her heart for prayer; therefore, she often moved away from human gaze and in the silence of solitude with tears poured out before God her fervent maternal prayer for the future fate of her baby. "God!" - she said then, - save and preserve me, Your wretched servant; save and protect this baby carried in my womb, for you are the Lord, protect the babies (Psalm 115:5); Thy will be done, O Lord, upon us, and blessed be Thy name forever!” Thus, the God-fearing mother of the holy child remained in strict fasting and frequent heartfelt prayer; so the child herself, the blessed fruit of her womb, even before his birth, was in some way already purified and sanctified by fasting and prayer.
Cyril and Maria saw the great mercy of God on themselves; their piety required that their feelings of gratitude to the Good-Giver God be expressed in some external feat of piety, in some reverent vow. And what could be more pleasing to the Lord in the circumstances in which they found themselves, if not a strong heart desire and a firm determination to prove themselves fully worthy of God’s mercy? And so, righteous Mary, like Saint Anna, the mother of the Prophet Samuel, together with her husband made the following promise: if God gives them a son, then dedicate him to serving God. Baptism of baby Bartholomew, future St. Sergius on May 3, 1319, in the house of boyar Kirill there was general joy and joy: God gave Mary a son. The righteous parents invited their relatives and good friends to share with them the joy of the birth of a new family member, and everyone thanked God for this new mercy He showed to the house of the pious boyar. On the fortieth day after birth, the parents brought the baby to church to perform holy baptism on him and fulfill their promise to present the child as an immaculate sacrifice to God, who gave him. A reverent priest named Michael gave the baby the name Bartholomew in holy baptism, of course because on this day (June 11) the memory of the Holy Apostle Bartholomew was celebrated, for this was required by the then church custom. This name, and by its very meaning - son of joy - was especially comforting for the parents of this baby. For is it possible to describe the joy that filled their hearts when they saw before them the beginning of the fulfillment of their bright hopes that rested on this baby from the day of his miraculous proclamation in his mother’s womb? Cyril and Maria told this incident to the priest, and he, as well versed in the Holy Scriptures, showed them many examples from the Old and New Testaments, when God’s chosen ones, even from their mother’s womb, were destined to serve God; brought them the words of the prophet David about the perfect foreknowledge of God (“my undeeded vision has been seen by your eyes” (Ps. 139:16)) and the Apostle Paul (“God called me from the womb of my mother to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the nations” ( Gal.1:16)), and other similar passages of Holy Scripture. Father Mikhail consoled Kirill and Maria with gracious hope for their newborn. “Do not be embarrassed,” he told them, “and even more rejoice that your son will be the chosen vessel of the Spirit of God and a servant of the Holy Trinity.” And having blessed the child and his parents, the servant of the altar of Christ sent them away in peace. Meanwhile, the mother, and then others, again began to notice something unusual in the baby: when the mother happened to be satisfied with meat food, the baby did not take her nipples; the same thing was repeated, and without any reason, on Wednesdays and Fridays, so that on these days the baby was completely left without food. Maria, of course, was worried, thought that the child was unwell, consulted with other women who carefully examined the child, but there were no noticeable signs of illness on him, either internal or external. Left without food, the baby not only did not cry, but also looked at them cheerfully, smiled and played with his hands... Finally, they paid attention to the time when the baby did not accept his mother's breasts, and then everyone was convinced that in this children's fast they were marked, as the saint puts it Filaret, “the mother’s disposition preceded and the seeds of her future dispositions were manifested.” Brought back by fasting in the womb of the mother, the baby, even at birth, seemed to demand fasting from the mother. And the mother, indeed, began to observe the fast even more strictly: she completely abandoned meat food, and the baby, except for Wednesdays and Fridays, always ate her milk after that.
When Bartholomew was seven years old, his parents sent him to learn to read and write so that he could read and understand the Word of God. His two brothers also studied with him: the elder Stefan and the younger Peter. The brothers studied successfully, but Bartholomew was far behind them. The teacher punished him, his comrades reproached him and even laughed at him, his parents persuaded him; and he himself strained all the efforts of his childish mind, spent his nights over a book, and often, hiding from human gaze, somewhere in solitude, he cried bitterly about his inability, fervently and fervently prayed to the Lord God: “Give me, Lord , understand this letter; teach me. Lord, enlighten and give understanding!” But he was still not given a diploma.
Once his father sent him into the field to look for foals, which task was especially to the liking of the boy, who loved to retire from people. In the field, under an oak tree, Bartholomew saw an unfamiliar elder-monk with the rank of presbyter; the reverent and angelic old man offered his prayers to God here and shed tears of heartfelt tenderness before the Omniscient. Having bowed to him, the modest youth respectfully stepped aside and stood close. The elder finished his prayer, looked with love at the good child, and, seeing in him with his spiritual eyes the chosen vessel of the Holy Spirit, he affectionately called him to himself, blessed him, kissed him fatherly and asked: “What do you need, child?” “I was sent to learn to read and write,” Bartholomew said through tears, “and most of all my soul would like to learn to read the Word of God. But no matter how hard I try, I just can’t learn. Pray to God for me, holy father, ask the Lord to reveal to me the teachings of the books: I believe that God will accept your prayers.” The elder prayed and carefully took out a small reliquary from his bosom. Having opened it, he took from there with three fingers a small particle of the holy prosphora, and, blessing Bartholomew with it, said: “Take this, child, and snow; this is given to you as a sign of God’s grace and understanding of Holy Scripture.” Having taught him enough about the salvation of the soul, the elder wanted to go on his way; but the prudent youth did not want to part with the holy mentor. He fell at his feet and with tears begged him to enter his parents' house. “My parents,” said Bartholomew, “love people like you very much, father!” Don’t deprive them of your holy blessing either!”
The elder followed the young stranger, and Bartholomew’s parents greeted him with honor. For pious people, such an elder - a monk - is always a welcome guest, and Cyril and Maria especially loved to receive and lodge monks in their house. Having accepted the blessing from the elder, they offered him a warm meal. But the guest hesitated to sit down at the table. “First you should taste spiritual food,” he noted and headed to the prayer room, which in the good old days was in every home of pious princes and boyars. He invited Bartholomew there with him, and, blessing the beginning of the Third Hour, ordered him to read the psalms. The youth took the blessing from the elder and, reverently making the sign of the cross, began to verse the Psalter harmoniously and clearly! After this, the holy guest tasted the meal offered to him, and, having blessed the hospitable hosts, wanted to leave; but the pious boyars were sorry to let him go so soon: they still wanted to talk with the elder, experienced in spiritual life, in whom they had already noticed the gift of insight. By the way, they told him how their son, while still in his mother’s womb, cried out three times in the church, and they wanted to know what the elder thought about this incident. “O good spouses! - the elder said to them, - behold, the Lord has honored you with such great mercy: he has given you such a son. Why are you afraid where there is no fear? You should rejoice that God blessed you with such a child: He chose your son even before his birth. And that I am telling you the truth - this is a sign for you: from now on the boy will well understand all book wisdom and will freely read the Divine Scripture. Know that your son will be great before God and people for his virtuous life!” The elder got up to go; Already on the threshold of the house, he once again turned to Bartholomew’s parents and uttered the following mysterious words in a prophetic spirit: “The Youth will once be the abode of the Most Holy Trinity; he will lead many with him to the understanding of the Divine commandments.” The hospitable hosts accompanied the wanderer to the gates of their house; but then he suddenly became invisible, so that Cyril and Maria involuntarily thought: was not an angel of God sent to them to bestow wisdom on their son? - And they deeply preserved his mysterious words in their reverent hearts.
The youth Bartholomew asks for a parental blessing for a monastic life. Wanting to preserve mental and physical purity, the youth tamed his young flesh through strict abstinence and labor. When Mary persuaded him to spare himself, he replied: “Don’t embarrass me in this, my dear, so that you don’t have to do this against your will. Do not turn me away from abstinence, which is so sweet to my soul; Why are you giving your son unhelpful advice? After all, you told me that while still in the cradle I fasted on Wednesdays and Fridays; How can I now not force myself to please God, so that He will deliver me from my sins?” The mother was amazed at the reasonable speeches of her son, and, not wanting to interfere with his good will about God, usually told him: “If you reason like that, then do as you want; The Lord is with you, I don’t want to hinder you in good things, my child!” At that time, the Rostov lands came under the influence of the Moscow princes. The Moscow nobleman Vasily, nicknamed Kocheva, was sent to Rostov to the rank of governor, and with him another, named Mina. Upon arrival in Rostov, they began to act with absolute authority, oppressing the residents, so that many were forced to give their property to Muscovites, reaching extreme poverty, and for this they received only insults and beatings. The righteous parents of Bartholomew did not escape these sorrows. The once glorious and eminent boyar Kirill, even earlier than these events, began to suffer poverty in his old age. Frequent trips to the Horde with his prince, heavy tributes and unbearable gifts to the Horde nobles, without which these trips were never complete, severe famine that often devastated the Rostov region, and most of all, says the Monk Epiphanius, the great army or the invasion of Turalykovo in 1327 , - all this together had an extremely unfavorable effect on his condition and almost brought Cyril to poverty. It is also very likely that the willfulness of the Moscow governors, who ruled in Rostov as independent sovereigns, did not spare Kirill, as a close boyar of the Rostov princes; perhaps he then lost not only his boyar honors, but also all his property. It was difficult for Cyril to remain in Rostov, and perhaps he was directly ordered by the Moscow governors to leave the city, and therefore he decided, as soon as the opportunity opened, to leave his native land and go into the service of another prince.
The opportunity soon presented itself. 12 versts from the Trinity Lavra, towards Moscow, there is the village of Gorodishche or Gorodok, which in ancient times bore the name Radonezh. In 1328, going to the Horde, Grand Duke John Danilovich (Kalita) wrote a spiritual will, in which, among other things, he assigned the “village of Radonezh” to the Grand Duchess Elena “with her small children” inseparably. Soon after that, this village became the full property of Iannov’s youngest son, Andrei. “The Grand Duke, due to Andrei’s youth, appointed Terenty Rtishch as governor in Radonezh, who, wanting to attract a larger number of settlers to this then almost uninhabited region, announced various benefits for the settlers in the name of the prince. As soon as this became known in Rostov, many of its residents, hoping to find relief, flocked to Radonezh. Among such settlers, Epiphanius names Protasius Tysyatsky, George, son of Protopopov and his family, John and Feodor Tormasov, their relatives Dudenya and Onisim (a former Rostov nobleman, and later a deacon and disciple of Sergiev). Among them, Blessed Kirill moved with his entire family and settled in Radonezh near the Church of the Nativity of Christ.
Saints Cyril and Mary took monastic vows. According to the custom of that time, Cyril was supposed to receive an estate, but he himself, due to his old age, could no longer carry out the service, and therefore his eldest son Stefan, who was probably still in Rostov, took on this responsibility. got married. The youngest of the sons of Cyril and Mary, Peter, also chose married life. Bartholomew continued his exploits in Radonezh. More than once he told his father: “Let me go, father, with a blessing, and I will go to the monastery.” “Slow down, child,” his father answered him, “you see for yourself: we have become old and weak, there is no one to serve us - your brothers have a lot of concern for their families. We rejoice that you are concerned about how to please the Lord God, this is a good thing. But believe, my son: your good part will not be taken away from you, just serve us a little until God shows His mercy on us and takes us from here. Here, take us to the grave, then no one will stop you from fulfilling your cherished desire.” Bartholomew did not leave the will of his father. But the spirit of monasticism was insensitively communicated from the son to the parents: at the end of their sorrowful life, Cyril and Maria themselves, according to the pious custom of antiquity, wished to take on the angelic image. About three versts from Radonezh there was the Intercession Khotkov Monastery, which consisted of two sections: one for the elders, the other for the elders. The righteous parents of Bartholomew sent their feet to this monastery in order to spend the rest of their days here in the feat of repentance and preparation for another life. Almost at the same time, Stefan's wife and eldest son died. Having buried her in the Khotkovsky Monastery, Stefan did not want to return to the world. Having entrusted his children, probably to Peter, he remained in Khotkovo, took monastic vows and began to care for his weak parents. However, the schema-boyars, overworked by old age and sorrows, did not labor long in their new title: no later than 1339, they had already gone to the Lord in peace for eternal rest. The children honored them with tears of filial love and buried them under the shadow of the same Pokrovsky monastery, which from that time on became the last shelter and tomb of the Sergiev family.
From generation to generation, the behest of St. Sergius was passed down that anyone wishing to visit his monastery should first pray at the holy remains of his parents - the righteous Cyril and Mary - in the Khotkovsky monastery. In the year of the 600th anniversary of the repose of St. Sergius (1992), the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church ranked the locally revered saints of Radonezh - Schemamonk Kirill and Schemanun Maria - among the holy saints of God for church-wide veneration. The memory of Saints Cyril and Mary is celebrated on September 28 (October 11, New Art.), January 18/31, July 6/19 (Council of Radonezh Saints), as well as on the Thursday of the Week of the Publican and the Pharisee.
Veneration of the saints
The parents of St. Sergius of Radonezh in the life of the fourteenth century were depicted with halos on their heads. Before the onset of the nineteenth century, the veneration of saints spread throughout Russia. As the month books testify, people went to the married couple in search of healing.
Orthodox Christians celebrate the days of remembrance of saints on September 28 (October 11) and January 18 (31). In addition, Cyril’s name day is celebrated on October 1, and Mary’s name day on January 31.
Sergius of Radonezh, in the world Bartholomew Kirillovich, is the greatest Russian ascetic. He was a hieromonk of the Russian Church, as well as the founder of several monasteries. One of the most important and famous is Holy Trinity, which is located near Moscow. He has been venerated among the saints since the fifteenth century.
In his childhood, Bartholomew did not study very diligently, unlike his brothers, Stefan and Peter. For this he was punished by the teacher and scolded by his parents. And he, with tears in his eyes, read prayers to the Lord. Subsequently, work and patience helped him to fully study the Holy Scriptures. So he became addicted to the Orthodox Church and chose the monastic path for himself. Orthodox Christians, followers of the Old Ritual, as well as Eastern Catholics celebrate his memory on September 25, July 5 and 6. Believers revere Sergius as the patron saint of students.
Religious exploits of Mary herself
It seems that to bear in the womb of a future saint, who, moreover, announced himself so early, is already a great merit before God. But Saint Mary of Radonezh, as the author of the life of the founder of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra writes, stayed away from all uncleanness and defilement. She treated the child she carried as “some priceless treasure.” While other pregnant women annoyed their husbands with their whims, Maria was very restrained in food.
She strictly kept fasts and generally refused any fast food. When she was pregnant, she excluded fish from her diet. She ate only boiled vegetables and cereals, and drank only spring water, and even then in small quantities. She very often prayed alone to God, asking Him to protect her and the baby. She also often mentioned that if he were born male, she would dedicate him to the Church, that is, make him a monk, as soon as he reached the age of understanding good and evil.
Iconography
There are several versions of icons depicting Saints Mary and Cyril of Radonezh, which are of great importance for Orthodox believers. In the classical version, the monks are dressed in monastic robes. As a rule, spouses are depicted in pairs, but there are also icons in which the mother of Sergius of Radonezh, Mary, is depicted separately.
In another version of the iconography, the saints are depicted together with their venerable son, turning their gaze to him. In addition, there are several different hagiographic scenes with icons depicting the most significant moments in the life of the pious married couple.
Miracles performed by Sergius in his mother's womb
But then Maria of Radonezh became pregnant for the third time. At first there were no signs of miracles. But one day Mary went to the holy liturgy and stood in the church. This is how the biographer of Sergius of Radonezh Epiphanius describes this amazing incident: when the priest opened the book of the Gospels and prepared to read from it, the baby exclaimed in a loud voice from his mother’s womb.
The amazement of those around was great, but what should Mary herself feel? The unborn baby cried out just as loudly during the service twice: before the singing of the cherubic glory and when the priest proclaimed: “Hearken, glory to the saints!” Since then, Sergius’s parents realized that they would have an extraordinary child in their family. And they, like once the mother of the prophet Samuel, Saint Anna, decided to dedicate it to the church.
What are they asking a married couple to do?
People turn to the relics and icons of the holy married couple Mary and Cyril of Radonezh in search of healing and salvation from various troubles. The Chronicle of the Khotkovo Monastery describes cases of miraculous healing from the most terrible and destructive diseases - including cholera and pestilence. After reading the incessant psalter and prayers, Christian believers received long-awaited healing and salvation from all the misfortunes that plagued them. The relics of Saints Cyril and Mary of Radonezh are currently in the St. Nicholas Church of the Intercession Khotkov Monastery.
Prayer text
Believing Christians who want to receive salvation and healing turn to Saints Mary and Kirill with a bright prayer.
Its text is as follows:
“Oh, servants of God, Saints Cyril and Mary! Even though you have ended your natural temporary life in body, you do not depart from us in spirit; you guide us to Christ God, instructing us to walk according to the commandments of the Lord and to bear our cross and follow our Master. You, venerable ones, together with our reverend and God-bearing father Sergius, your beloved son, have boldness towards Christ our God and towards His Holy Mother of God. Be prayer books and intercessors for us, unworthy, living in your holy monastery, and you are its rulers. Be the helpers and intercessors of God's gathered squad, so that those who live in this place and come with faith, preserve by your prayers, remain unharmed from demons and from evil people, glorifying the Holy Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and ever forever and ever. Amen".
Mother of the little saint
In May 1314, Maria of Radonezh happily gave birth to her third son. After 40 days, his parents took him to church to be baptized. And the priest named the baby Bartholomew. And not only because on that day (June 11) the Church honored the memory of a saint with that name. "Bartholomew" means "Son of Consolation" (Joy). The priest also felt that this baby would serve as a comforter not only for his parents, but also for many other Christians. He predicted to the parents: “Rejoice, rejoice, for this is God’s chosen vessel, the abode of the Holy Spirit and the servant of the Trinity.”
Little Bartholomew, accustomed to fasting in the womb, did not want to give it up. The rich noblewoman wanted to give the child, like her first two sons, to a wet nurse. But the baby did not want to take the breast. Then Maria began to feed her son herself. And as she noticed, on Wednesdays and Fridays, the baby refused to suck milk, and on other days he drank it. Wanting to make her son's food more nutritious, Maria began to eat meat. But little Bartholomew immediately refused to take the breast. Because of him, the mother completely gave up meat.
